Paint brush



Sept' 14, 1965 G. H. sToRMYR 3,205,524

PAINT BRUSH Filed Jan. 10, 1964 455 3g Fig 9. (3o 36 l I 42 INVENToR.

F1' gt qni' United States Patent 3,205,524 PAINT BRUSH George H. Stormyr, R0. BOX 275, Silverton, Greg. Filed Jan. 10, 1964, Ser. No. 336,913 2 Claims. (Cl. 15-201) This invention relates to paint brushes, and more particularly to a paint brush construction which affords thorough cleaning of the bristles.

It is generally recognized in the art that the useful life of a paint brush is limited primarily by the accumulation of dried paint within the bristles, resulting from the inability to thoroughly clean the bristles after each use. In attempting to solve this problem, and hence to obtain longer service life, paint brush constructions have been provided heretofore in the form of multi-section bristle components adapted to be separated to facilitate more thorough cleaning. However, these proposed structures are characterized by being rather complex and therefore too costly for general use. Further, they are cumbersome and difficult to assemble and disassemble, they are subject to improper assembly due to the accumulation of paint -in the intertting parts, and they are not leak proof.

Accordingly, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide 'a paint brush of the multi-section type which can readily be opened for inspection or cleaning simply by retracting or removing a ferrule securing the sections in the closed position and as readily closed with precision and speed ready for use.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of a paint brush of the multi-section type which is characterized by being leak proof when assembled.

A further important object of this invention is the provision of a paint brush of the multi-section type which is characterized when assembled by having a substantially continuous and uninterrupted working surface of bristles.

A still further important object of this invention is the provision of a paint brush of the multi-section type which is of simplified construction for economical manufacture.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of this invention will appear from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a View in side elevation of a paint brush embodying the features of the present invention, the several sections thereof being shown by dash lines as separated from each other.

FIG. 2 is an end elevation of the paint brush shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 3--3 in FIG. 1 and showing details of assembly of the bristle and handle components of each section of the paint brush;

FIG. 4 is a sectional View taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. l and showing the manner in which the paint brush sections are secured together;

FIG. 5 is a sectional View taken along the line 5 5 in FIG. 1 and showing the manner in which the paint brush sections are retained in assembled condition;

FIG. 6 is a view in side elevation of a modified form of multi-section paint brush embodying the features of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an end elevation of the paint brush shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 8-8 in FIG. 6; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 9--9 in FIG. 6.

In its general concept, the paint brush of the present invention comprises a plurality of sections each constitut- 3,205,524 Patented Sept. 14, 1965 ing Ian integrated assembly of a handle component and a bristle component, the plurality of sections being connected together pivotally adjacent the outer ends of the handle components and supported releasably in assembled condition by means of `a removable encircling ferrule.

Referring first to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-5 of the drawing, the paint brush includes a plurality of sections each including a thin, at handle component 1t) terminating at one end in a widened head 12 to which is secured the thin, at bristle component 14. Although four such sections are illustrated in the drawing, it will be understood that the number of sections may be varied as desired.

The bristle component may be attached to the handle head by any conventional procedure, although the arrangement best illustrated in FIG. 3 is preferred. Thus, the flat, thin mass of bristles are bonded together at their butt ends in a base 16 of rubber or other suitable bonding material including the many varieties of cements, adhesives and thermo-setting and thermo-plastic resins.

The bonded base end of the bristle component then is placed in abutment with the face end of the handle head, preferably with a layer of adhesive interposed therebetween, and the joint then is overlapped with an encircling band 18. In the. preferred embodiment illustrated this band is formed by first coating the joint with a layer of synthetic polyester resin (incorporating the usual accelerator catalyst), then wrapping about the coated joint a layer of glass iiber cloth, and nally coating the cloth with a second layer of polyester resin. This band is quite thin and yet is extremely strong and rigid. Moreover, the external surface of this band is sufficiently smooth to provide a liquid tight seal between adjacent bands when the brush sections are assembled together, as eX- plained more fully hereinafter.

Having thus formed the plurality of sections of the paint brush, they are assembled together as a stack (FIG. 2). Aligned transverse openings 20 adjacent the outer ends of the handle sections freely receive therethrough a headed pivot pin by which the brush sections are secured together for relative pivotal movement. Although the pivot pin may be a rivet or other device which forms a permanent attachment, a detachable pivot connection is preferred to enable disassembly of the brush sections. Accordingly, the pivot pin best shown in FIG. 4 is in the form of an elongated stem 22 provided at one end with an enlarged head 24 and having at its opposite end an internally threaded bore adapted to receive the threaded screw shank 26 projecting from the enlarged screw head 28.

The pivotally connected vsections are secured rreleasably in assembled, overlapping condition by means of an encircling ferrule 30. This ferrule may be made of metal or other suitable material. In the embodiment illustrated it is made as a band of glass fiber cloth or mat reinforced by polyester resin. The ferrule is proportioned to slip freely over the assembly of handle components and to encircle the assembled heads, being retained thereon by frictional contact. For this purpose it is preferred that the heads be tapered outwardly toward the bristle components and the ferrule be tapered correspondingly, to provide ra wedge connection therebetween.

With the brush sections secured together in overlapping relation by the ferrule, the interfacial contact between the adjacent bands 18 and ferrule provide a liquid tight seal which prevents paint from running from the bristles through the handle sections.

When it is desired to clean the brush, the encircling ferrule is slipped off of the `assembled handles and the sections are .pivoted relative to each other about the pivot 3 v pin 22, in fan-like manner, to separate the plurality o bristle components, as illustrated indash lines in FIG. 1. The plurality of thin bristle components then may be washed thoroughlypinsolvent to Veffect maximum cleaning and insure complete romoval of paint. Thereafter, the brush sections are`pivoted to the mutally overlapping position Iand the ferrule reinstalled.

If desired, the brush sections may be separated from each other, by disconnection of the pivot pin 22, and each individual brush section may be utilized as a separate paint brush. Alternatively, the sections may be Vassembled togetherv in any desired numbers, it being required only that ferrules 30 of appropriate sizes be provided for the various assemblies.

Referring now to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 6-9 of the drawing, the outermost handle components 32 and 34 are provided with handle heads 36 and 38, re-

spectively, which are substantially L-shaped in cross sec# tion (FIG. 9). These heads support correspondingly L-shaped bristle components 40 and 42, respectively, and are arranged relative to each other to define the outer periphery'of the brush. Thus, one outer bristle compor nent defines one face andy one side of the brushand the other bristle component deiines the other face and other side of theV brush. This provides a composite brush iny which the mass of bristles has a substantially continuous and uninterrupted peripheral surface, as distinguished from the interrupted sides of the bristle assembly shown in FIG. 2.`

The next inner handle components 44 and 46 also are provided with L-shaped handle heads 48 and 50, respectively, supporting L-shaped bristle components 52 and 54, respectively, arranged to conform to the shape of the outer components.V The central space between these inner brush sections is lled with a central handle component 56 having a lian-thin handle head 58 which preferably does not support a bristle component. head thus forms a plugand the space 60 outwardly of it and surrounded by the inner bristle componentsforms a paint reservoir, as is Well known.

The brush sections are secured together pivotally adjacent theouter ends of the handle components, as is the first embodiment described, and are secured releasably in assembled condition by the removal ferrule 30, also as previously described. Thus, the manner of 'assembly and disassembly `is substantially the same for both embodiments. Y

The centralv From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the present invention provides a paint brush of considerable versatility, which is capable of being thoroughly cleaned with speed and facility, which may be disassembled into 'a plurality of indvidualpaint brushes for separate use, and which is kof simplified construction.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that` various changes may be made in thestructural'details described hereinbefore without departing from the spirit of this invention and the scope of the appendedl claims.,

Having now described myinvention'` and the manner in which itmay be used, what I lclaim to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A paint brush comprising f (a) a plurality of brushsections arranged inv a stack and each including a bristle component and a handle component having a bristle `mounting head, (b) pivot means securing the handle components together adjacent the ends opposite the heads, and (c) ferrule means comprisinga hand releasably encircling and' frictionally engaging the mountingv heads for releasably securing the stack of brush sections together, (d) the mounting heads and band being tapered outwardly in the direction of the bristle' components. 2. The paint brush of claim lwherein there are at least three brush sections and the outer mounting heads andl bristle componentsare L-shaped incrosssection and arranged when the sections are in assembled condition toA form a substantially continuous peripheral surface of bristles about the bristles of the inner brush sections.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 749,389 1/04 Lashlie 15,-185 1,649,490 11/27 Schalle `15-202 2,703,899 l 3/55 Bledsoe 15--1'60 2,796,047 6/57 Lehr s ---a 15-187 X` 2,943,341 7/60 Dant 15-202 3,100,310 8/63 Polk et al. 15-193 FOREIGN PATENTS 585,946 10/ 3 3 Germany.

678,193 7 39 Germany.

11,677 5/08 Great Britain.

886,285 1/62` Great Britain.

CHARLES A. W-ILLMOUTH, Primary Exam'mer.

as vnew and desire- 

1. A PAINT BRUSH COMPRISING (A) A PLURALITY OF BRUSH SECTIONS ARRANGED IN A STACK AND EACH INCLUDING A BRISTLE COMPONENT AND A HANDLE COMPONENT HAVING A BRISTLE MOUNTING HEAD, (B) PIVOT MEANS SECURING THE HANDLE COMPONENTS TOGETHER ADJACENT THE ENDS OPPOSITE THE HEADS, AND (C) FERRULE MEANS COMPRISING A HAND RELEASABLY ENCIRCLING AND FRICTIONALLY ENGAGING THE MOUNTING HEADS FOR RELEASABLY SECURING THE STACK OF BRUSH SEC(D) THE MOUNTING HEADS AND BAND BEING TAPERED OUTWARDLY IN THE DIRECTION OF THE BRISTLE COMPONENTS. 